Disk valve water lock for pulp machines



May 2, 1933. H. P. 1.. LAUSSUCQ DISK VALVE WATER LOCK FOR PULP MACHINESFiled May 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 2,1933. H. P. LAUSSUCQ DISKVALVE WATER LOOK FOR PULP MACHINES Filed May 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gm: E

gw i '20 1 A further purpose offers a novel form of Patented May 2, 1933p UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 1 y HENRI P. I. LAUSSUGQ OF READING,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR IO BIRDSBORO STEEL FOUNDRY &MAGHIN E COMPANY, OFBIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA I V nrsx VALVEwarns LOCK r03 PULP MACHINES Application file-d may as, 1931. SerialNo.540,156.

My invention relatesto the manufacture of pressed boards fromfinely'divided fiber. v

One purpose of my invention is to periorm desirable'cycles of operationand to present mechanism adapted to perform the opera tions. i

A further purpose is to control the drain ter loclrcomprising a valve orvalvesas sociated with the lower die, forming the bottom of the mold,for opening andclosing the outlet from the drainage grooves formed insaid die.

valve for retaining the drainage water within the mold.

A further purpose is to control the water look by a valve which isoperated by fluid pressure and normally to hold it in open position,thus maintaining the water locks normally open.

A- further purpose-is to cooperate the valve closing means with thepressure-actuated means employed for lifting the movable die or head,whereby the valves Will 1136610566., making the water locks effectivewhen the die is in the raised position, so that when the die is loweredthe valves will be automatically opened and the water locks will beopened.

A further purpose is to use a perforated plate upon the lower die forsupporting a wire screen and to use the solid edge portions of the plateto'form covers for troughs leading to the water locks. j

- A further purpose is to seal the joints between the movable deckle anda plate cover in a better way.

Further purposeswill appear in the specification and in the claims.

My invention relates both to themethods or processes involved and tostructure by which the methods may be carried out.

I have elected to show one main form only closed 7 position.

' gardedas conventional.

pose of all suchmachlnes 1s.to press thecarperforated .of my invention,selecting form which is practical and efficient in operation and whichWell illustrates the principles involved. 7

My invention relates to furthernovel improvements as disclosed andclaimed in an 65 application for Letters Patent of the United Statesfiled b me April 4,1931, Serial Number 527,688, or Sheet press andmethod.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press em-m.

bodying my invention partly in section, as on line 11, Figure 2. Figure2 is a right end elevation of Figure 1, partly in section, upon line 22,Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial transverse'vertical sectional view'on line3-'3,-Figure 1, drawn on an enlarged scale. j 7

Figure 3a is a View of a modified valve, generally similar to Figure 3,but shown in Figure-4 is a diagram illustrating a suitable hydraulicpressure system for operating the press and the Water lock. '1' v Figure5 is a diagram illustrating successive cycles. of operation of the pressand of the water lock."

Like numbers refer to'like parts in all figures. I

Describingin illustration and not inlimitation and referring to thedrawings z+ .80

WVet machines for, forming boards and sheets from paper pulp,leathenfiberjand other commercial fiber suspensions are well known, andtherefore much of the illustrati-on, although showing structurefls tobeqre- The primary pure valve for controlling, the

rier liquid, usually water, from raw material suspension to form theraW,,m-aterial into a sheet.

c For convenience in designation, Il refer to the raw material, whateverits exact nature, as finely divided" fiber suspended in a liq uid, or asfiber, or-mush, and to the finishedproduct, whatever its dimensions, asasheet? Y I 1 Fiber suspensions 'are diflicult to press chiefly' becauseofthe extreme readiness with I i which the fiber precipitates from theliquid.

This'te'ndency to precipitate makes it'highly 10o important to keep thefiber flowing continuously in one direction with as few interruptions aspossible, to project the fiber laterally rather than vertically,avoiding sudden drop ping into final position, to prevent all estape ofliquid suspension medium until precipitation is desired and to chargethe mold rapidly and accurately without allowing air to be trapped inthe mold.

Another difficulty frequently encountered the lower die eitherunperforated or foraminated. In this case suction is applied to theopenings in the upper die, as well known in the art.

While it is customary to construct wet machines with upper movable andlower stationary dies, as illustrated, lower m'ovable dies are sometimesused. It will be evident, of course, that my invention is equallyapplicable, whether the upper die alone, or the lower die alone, or bothdies are movable.

The upper and lower dies are of course both press platens, but the termplaten is also applied to parts of the press located above or below themovable die, which are used as fixed heads or bases in the framesrequired to support the rams.

The principal parts of the illustrated wet board press, or wet machine,include top and bottom fixed platens 6 and 7 respectively, an d tensioncolumns 8, which together form a rigid frame 9. An intermediate movableplaten 10 and a surrounding movable deckle are slidably mounted upon thecolumns 8. The intermediate platen 10 is or carries the upper die orhead and the bottom platen 7 is or carries the lower die 11.

The upper die 10 is moved toward the lower die 11 by main hydraulic ramsor pistons 12 operatively mounted in cylinders 13,

rigidly secured to the top platen 6. The cylinders 13 are fed throughpipe connections 14 from any suitable source of pressure to force therams 12 downwardly toward the lower or fixed die.

The upper die or head 10 is guided by lugs 15 which slide upon thecolumns 8 and is moved upwardly (retracted) by bars or links 16,connected to the head 10 and suspended from cross-heads 17 of retractingrams 18. These rams operate in hydraulic cylinders 19, fed with waterthrough suitable pipe connections 20. The cylinders 19 are rigidlymounted upon pedestals or bases 21 secured upon the upper surfaces 22 ofthe top overhanging end portions 23 and 24 of the frame member or platen6.

There are two of the cylinders 19 located at opposite ends of the topplaten. These cylinders 19 are located along the longitudinal centerline of the platen and centrally of each cross-head 17. The cylinders 19lift the cross-heads, which in turn lift the head 10.

The head 10 is surrounded by a deckle 25 including longitudinal sides 26and 27, located adjacent to the sides of the head 10, and transversemembers in the form of flow boxes 28 and 29 located adjacent to the endsof the head. The fiow boxes 28 and 29 are rigidly connected with andlargely comprise the deckle ends which connect the deckle sides 26 and27.

Guiding lugs 30 upon the deckle sides 26 and 27 slide along the lengthsof columns 8, thus making the deckle 25 movable relatively to themovable platen or head 10 and also movable with respect to the upper andlower platens 6 and 7.

3 The deckle sides carry detachable liners 1. against the ends of thevertical walls 32, extending parallel with the flow boxes 28 and 29. Thewalls 32, together with the liners 31, form a parallelogram defining thesides and ends of the mold. Vertical face plates 33 upon the die or head10 register properly with the deckle liners 31 and the end walls 32 andtake the lateral wear which otherwise would come directly upon this dieor head. They insure a working fit between the die or head 10 and thedeckle 25 at all times.

The flow boxes 28 and 29 initially receive and distribute the fiber,mush, or other material to be formed into sheets in the press.

The liners are connected with or abut The mush is supplied to the flowboxes 28 and 7 i 29 through suitable pipes, not shown in the drawings. 7v

The flow boxes 28 and 29 have openings or throats 34, through which themush flows upon the lower die 11, filling or partly filling the moldwhen the deckle is in the lower position shown.

Stirrers 35 are located within the flow boxes 28 and 29 adjacent to thethroats 34. The .1.

stirrers are rotated by any suitable means, not shown in the drawings,through their shafts 36 to keep the mush agitated and thereforeuniformly in suspension.

Gates 37 are carried by the deckles 25 to all inlet gates, vent gates,liners and confining walls whatsoever. I do not regard the-dis tinctionbetween the singular and the plural of the word deckle, nor between theside vdeckle and the end deckle, as critical.

The deckle 25, together with the flow boxes forming part of the deckle,is supported and vertically positioned by hangers 40, having their lowerends rigidly connected at 41 to the transverse frame memb'ers'38 formingthe innor walls of the flow boxes 28 and29; The frame members 38 arerigidlyconnected with the end plates 42 of the flow boxes, and theplates 42, in turn, rigidly attached to the ends of the deckle sides 26and'27.

The upper ends of the hangers 40 are rigidly secured to cross heads 43,having their outer ends mounted upon, deckle rams 44, movable inhydraulic cylinders 45. The cyl} inders are securedat their lower endsupon extension brackets 46 formed upon the'up-' per platen, or rigidframe member 6. The

cylinders are provided with suitable pipe connections 47 for the passageof a fluid pres.- sure medium for lifting the deckle 25'.

The gates 37 extend across the full length of the flow boxes 28 and 29.Near the center of the length of each gate 37, is secured an uprightorsuperstructure 48, having its upper end attached at 49130 a plunger orgate ram 50. There is a plunger 50 for each gate 37.

a The plungers 50 are operatively mounted in cylinders 51 having fluidconnections 52 through which apressure medium is preferably constantlysupplied to the cylinders 51. By this arrangement the gates 37 arenormally pressed downwardly into the closed position, as shown in thedrawings. .The

cylinders 51, carrying the gate rams 50, are

rigidly mounted upon brackets 53, by bolts or tie rods 54. Thesebrackets 53 are mounted upon the cylinders 19, as shown in Figure 1.

The gates 37 are adapted to be lifted'independently of the deckles, andagainst the heavy downward ur ing of the constant pressure rams. 50, bymeans of rocker arms which carry pins 56 fitting in slots 57 of slottedlinks 58, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The lower ends ofslotted'links 58 make pivotal connections at 59 with the gate 37.

The rocker arms are rigidly fastened to a rocker shaft 60, journalled insuitable bearings 61 on the top platen 6, and connected through cranks62 and rods'63 with the 5 cross head 64 of a horizontal gate-opening ram65 movable in a cylinder 66 supplied with fluid pressure at 67. Asmaller ram 68, operated in cylinder 69, throughpressur-e connections at70 is opposed to the gate-opening ram 65, and the smaller ram- 68,preferdeckle 25, including the gates 37', as a single unit withoutchanging the positions of the rocker arms 55 and, if the deckle is allthe way down, permit opening and closing the gates 37 without movementof the 'deckle.

The gates 37 lift against the downward pressure of the constantpressurerams 50 by the action of the horizontal gate=opening ram 65 through therocker shaft 60 and links 58,

and close by'action ofcthe constant pressure will return the ram 65 toits original positlon and at the same tune W1llI6l7L11Il the rockerarms-55 to starting position, acting through links 63, rocker arms 62and shaft 60.

When the deckle 25 is raised, the gates 37 are normally closed under theheavy downward urging from the constant pressure ram 50. 1 V Y Thebottom die 11 carries afilter bed 71 permitting easy downward expressionof water from the mush. I

As illustrated, the top 7 2 of the main casting or bottom die 11, isprovided with a succession of transverse drainage grooves 7 3;

The groove top surfaceiscovered by a foraminated plate 74, which is'inturn: covered by a'prefe rably movable screen, or wire, 75 0f perhaps 40or 60 mesh, desirably shifted and 'otherwiseattainable. Where this isdone the water must be locked against escape until the excess mush hasbeen forced back into the flow boxes.

Overfilling assists in securingeven precipitation of fiber in the moldand complete interlocking of the fiber masses where they have flowed infrom opposite ends or sides of the mold.

"75 rams 50, upon releasing the horizontalgate- I opening ram 65. Theconstant pressure ram not My invention relates not only to the waterlocks themselves but to interlinkageor interrelation between the waterlocks and the rest of the pressor its operation at will-so as I towater, lock the mold while the mush is entering the mold and until thehead 10 has expelled the air and/0r excess mush from the mold and thehead 10 is ready to-start upon its final downward pressing stroke. Thewaterlocksmust not remain open'a sufficient time before the beginningofthe pressing stroke of the die to allow drainage to lower the mush leveland thusproduce voidswhich the air will fill; nor should the die 10start its pressing stroke while the gates 37 are open appreciably. i

. The novel water locks illustrated in the drawings (of which one isillustrated in Figure 3) comprise valves 76 position-ed at oppositesides of the lower die 11. The valves 76 are connected with troughs 77,rigidly mounted upon the opposite sides of the lower die 11.

Said troughs 77 are U-shaped in cross section, formed by side walls 78and 79, a bottom wall 80 and suitable end walls. The inner walls 79 aresupported upon the vertical side surfaces 81 of the lower die 11.

The inner walls 79 of the troughs 77 terminate at or below the level ofthe drainage grooves 73 and permit the water from the latter to run intothe troughs 77.

The outer walls 78 of the troughs extend a sui'licient height to form awater tight jointwith the outer edge portions 82 of the foraminatedplate 74 supported upon the top surface of the lower die 11 above thedrainage grooves 7 3.

The outer edge portions 82 of the plate 7 1 are not perforated beyondthe mold as defined by the vertical liners 31 of the deckle sides 26 and27.

The lower surface of the deckle 25 carries a pad or gasket 83,preferably of rubber or leather, which rests upon the edges of the wirescreen 75, and presses the edges of the screen upon the solid outerportions 82 of the plate 7 1, when the deckle is in the lower position,shown in the drawings, and prevents the escape of mush and liquidbetween the plate 74 and the deckle confining the flow of water to itspassage through the perforations in the plate 74 to the drainage grooves73 formed in the die 11 and thence into the troughs 77.

The valves 76 are connected with the troughs 77 through traps or sealsin the form of pipes 84 whose lower ends 85 enter the troughs throughopenings 86. The pipes 81 are inclined upwardly from the troughs 77 tothe inlet connections 87 of the valves 76. The outlet connections 88 ofthe valves 76 lead to outlet or drain pipes 89 and to a sump, not shownin the drawings.

Each valve 76 contains a valve 90 pesitioned preferably slightly belowthe level of the bottom of the drainage grooves 73 formed in the lowerdie 11, as indicated by the dot and dash line in Figure 3. The top ofthe outlet opening 85 formed in the trough 77 may be slightly below thelevel of the valve seat 90, thus forming a seal or trap, for maintainingthe water in the trough at the level of the drainage grooves 73, wherebyonly a very smallquantity of drainage water from the mush will berequired to entirely fill the drainage grooves when the valves 76 areclosed. The troughs 77 are thus normally filled with water to the levelof the valve seats 90.

For the purpose of ready entrance of air into the drainage troughs 77during the end of the pressure dwell, when no more water is beingexpressed, I provide check valves 91 in the ends of the troughs 77,capable of opening to atmosphere at 92 and of closing to water escapefrom the trough 77.

The casing 93 of each valve 7 6 includes a cylinder 94 which forms apressure chamber. The casing also acts as a guide for a longitudinall'ymolvable clapper or plunger 95 carrying a valve closure 96 adapted toengage the valve seat 90 in closed valve positions.

The valve plunger 95 is lifted by a rod 97 extending through the packing98 and the cap 99 to point outside of the valve casing. A spring 100expands between a nut 101, the outer end of the rod and the valve cap 99to hold the valve normally open.

The pressure chamber 102 formed within the cylinder 94 is supplied withhydraulic pressure through pipe 103 so as to force the plunger 95downwardly and close the valve.

The pipe 103 from the pressure chambers of the valves 93 is connectedwith the pipe 20 communicating with the cylinder 19 of the hydraulic ram18 which lifts the movable die or head 10, as shown in rigure l. lVhenpressure is applied through the pipes 20 the die 10 will, he lifted andthe plungers of the valves 76 will. be moved against the action of thesprings 100, thus closing the valves 76. By this arrangement thevalves76 will be held c osed when the movable die or head 10 is liftedand the deelrles are lowered upon the lower die 11. During this time thegates 37 are opened and the mold is filled with mush which flows fromthe flow boxes 28 and 29. The valves 7 6 meantime prevent the watercontained in the mush from draining from the bottom of the mold.

The provision above for maintenance of pressure upon the piston whichcloses the water lock while the pull-back pressure is on is notinconsistent with maintenance of the water lock closure during movementof the head from its upper stroke position down to engagement with themush or during expression of the mush through the gates to apredetermined mush depth. This can he secured in a variety of ways.

One way which I find effective is to move the upper die down intoengagement with the muse and if desired further down to expel mush fromthe mold against the action of the pull-back pressure, thus maintainingthe water lock closed, and then to release the pull-hack pressure andthus releasethe water lock. This requires a higher total pressure, suchas ahigher total pressure through the main plungers (though notnecessarily a higher pressure per square inch) to force the movable diedownwardly to its intermediate position against or within the mush,notwithstanding the pull-back (in the present case push-back) pressureat 19 so that the pressure in line upon the pull-back and that upon line103 are maintained during thisdownward movement. My -applicationpreviously referred to contains disclosure of a supplemental pressurecylinder for thispurpose.

Another way has beensuggested by the use of a valve 104 at the junctionbetween the lines 20 and 103, whereby pressure can be maintained onvalve 103 during this part of the stroke while the pressure on thepull-" back cylinder 19 is released and at other portions of the strokethe same pressure is maintained on both of these lines concurrently.

The movable die 10 is moved downwardly, by reducing the pressure in thecylinder 19, until the die reaches the surface. of the mush, when thegates 37 are closed, In the absence of temporary separation of theirlines (asloy -valve 104 described above) ,the'reduction of trolvalve,10.7 is open.

the prewure in the cylinder 19 also causes a reduction of the pressurein the pressure chamber 102 of the valve 7 6, thus allowing the spring100 to open the valve by liftingthe closure 96 from the seat 90,-therebyallowing the water to drain from the troughs 77 and thedrainage grooves78 formed inthe lower die7. Figure 4 shows a hydraulic systemdiagrammatically, with manually operated control valves 105, 106,107,108 connected with the hydraulic plungers adapted to carry out thedifferent cycles of the invention. The valve 105 controls the plungers44 for l fting the deckle. The valve 106 controls the plunger 65forlifting the gates. The valve 107 controls the plunger 18 for liftingthedie 10 and also the plungers 95 for closing the valves'76-..

The control valve 107 also acts upon the pilot cylinder 109, whichcontrols the prefilling valve 110 for opening the latter to exhaust,

thus allowing the pressure to beexhausted fromv the main plungercylinders 13 and-return to the prefilling tank 111when the con-Thecontrol valve 108 is provided for admitting pressure through the pipe14, to the cylinders 13 controlling the main plungers to force themovable die or head 10 into the mold 4 and thus press the mush into aformedsheetr The pressure is supplied from the usual or any suitablepump, not shown in the drawingsthrough an accumulator 112, which isconnected with the control valves. The accumulator 112 is directly.connected through pipes 52 and 7 0. with the cylinders 51 and 69 of therams for applyinga constant pressure, tending to hold the deckle '25.and the gates 87 in the lower position, shown Figure '4.

, neutral.

Each of the control valves 105 and 108 has a handle or lever 113, thatmay be pushedin to apply pressure to its ram, and pushed out to placethe ram under exhaust, and placed in midposition to; place therams in InFigure 4 the control valve 107 is shown in the open position forsupplying pressure to the retracting ram plungers 18 and the plunger 95of the valve 76. In this position 1 the movable die 10 is elevated andthe valve 76 is closed to maintain a water lock to prevent the drainageof liquid through the filter:

bed formed by the perforated plate 74 and the drainage grooves 7 3', inthe lower die 11.

Thelother rams controlled by the valves 105,106 and 108 are in release,with the deckle resting upon the lower die 11 and the gates 37 "in theclosed position.

Figure 5 illustrates the different cycles of t operation of myinvention. At the beginning of thecycle, as indicated bythe verticalline A, the deckle starts to descend to its lower' level, indicated bythe heavy line extending downwardly from the line A to line B. Duringtheperiod between positionsA and B, the gate is also lowered with thedeckle, and the gates are in the closed position relatively to thedeckle for retaining the mush-in the flow boxes when the deckle iselevated. The movable die rams are elevated and the valve 76 formingthewater lock is'closed, as indicated by the heavy horizontal line at thebottom of Figure 5. During the operation indicated as taking placebetween the vertical lines B andC, the gates are elevated to the openposition allowing the mush'to flow into the mold and the gates areclosed at-the period indicatedby the line D. The movable die travelsdownwardly forcing air out through the gates or other vents until itreaches the top surface of the mush, (or squeezes out a predetermined orcasualsurplus of mush thro-ugh'the gates) as indicated by the line E.Whenthe movable die reaches the top level of the mush and squeezes outany surplus of mush, I then close the gates and preferablysimultaneously exhaust the pull-back cylinders 19 by placing the valve107 in exhaust position. This perunits the springs to open the valves76,

thus releasing the water lock and allowing the water to drain from themold.

The movable die performs the pressing operation between the periodsindicated by the of, the water looli has numerous advantages overmechanical ,waterlock actuation.

WVhere thewater lock is mechanically connectedto some part of thepress,whether it be its to the movable die, or'to the gates, or to some otherpart, motion of that part is obviously necessary before the water lockcan function unless someusually complicated loose con nection beinserted.

With hydraulic operation, however, I may,

by regulating the pressure of the spring 100 or the size of the waterlock actuating piston, cause the water lock to function in advance of orbehind the initial movement of the part to which the water lock ishydraulically interconnected. 'l. here is thus, in hydraulicinterconnection, a flexibility not found in purely mechanicalinterconnection.

Furthermore, where, as in my preferred form, the retracting cylinders ofthe upper die are connected to the water lock actuating' cylinders, Imake the movement of all of the parts of the wet machine entirelyIndependent of water lock position during the time when the sheet isbeing formed. I may -9 optionally move the upper die toward the lowerdie while maintaining the pressure on the retracting cylinders (pullbackcylinders) and therefore while the water lock is closed, or afterrelease of the retracting cylinder pressure, and thus while the waterlock (In the other hand, however, I may in some instances, connect thewater lock opera-ting cylinder to the main ram cylinders so that 9- thewater lock will remain open when pressure is applied. to the main ramcylinders In Figure 3a I illustrate a water lock designed to operate inthis manner, and comprising springs 100 normally retaining the water-loek closed as shown, and a piston 114, held draulic interconnections,I regard'oneration by retracting cylinder pressure as the preferableform.

I can vary the level of the valve seat with- 0 in a wide range, althoughI will preferably "if. locate the valve seat slightly below the level ofthe grooves.

It will of course be evident that my invention may be applied. in a wetmachine having a foraminated upper die. although I 'prefer to employ aforaminated lower die.

I believe that I am the first to operate a water lock of a wet machinehydraulically. I also believe that I am the first to hy- .670-draulically interconnect the water lock of a "wet machine with any partof the normal hydraulic system of such a machine.

I further believe that I am the first to operate a water lock byretracting (pullor Qpush-back) cylinder pressure.

I further'believe that I am the first to em-:

ploy a disk type water lock valve.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a wet machine, upper and lower dies, adeckl-e, a discharge outlet located between the deckle and the lowerdie, a water lock arranged for closing said discharge outlet, and meansoperatively associated with the dies and the water lock for closing thedischarge outlet when. the dies are separated.

2. In a wet machine, a mold. havingdrainage outlets, a water lockcontrolling the drainage outlets and hydraulic means for opcrating thewater lock.

3. In a wet machine, a mold having drainthe mold, a water lockcontrolling the drainage outlets. means for operating the water lock andan hydraulic connection between the hydraulic mold-operating means andthe means for operating the Water lock.

4. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a decklerelatively movable with respect to the dies, an hydraulic system foroperating the dies and the deckle, drainage channels in the lower die, aWater lock opening and closing the drainage channels, and hydraulicmeans foroperating the water lock connected to the hydraulic system.

5. In a wet machine, upper and lower rela tively movable dies, arelatively movab l'e deckle, means for relatively moving the dies andthe deckle including an hydraulic retracting cylinder for one of thedies, drainage channels in one of the dies, a water lock opening-andclosing the drainage channels and hydraulic means for operating thewater lock connected to the retracting cylinder.

6. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, one of thedies having openings through it for fluid passage, a deckle, aforaminous plate with a continuous part of which the deckle engages, a.normally open water drainage outlet between the deckle and the diehaving openings, and auto matic hydraulic means operatively associatedwith one of said dies for closing said drainage outlet when the dies areseparated.

7. In a wet machine, upper .and lower relatively movable dies, thebottom die having openings through it for fluid passage, a deckle, aforaminous plate with a continuous part of which the deckle engages, anormally normally open water drainage outlet from one of the dies,saiddie having horizontal drainage grooves formed therein, avalvearranged for opening and closing said drainage grooves, and hydraulicmeans associated with a movable die and with said valve for" closing thelatter and lifting the upper die.

9. In a wet machine, upper andlower relatively movable dies, a declzlcmovable rela. tively to said dies, said deckle forming the verticalwalls of a mold, said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, drainageopenings in one of the dies, adrainage trough mounted upon the lower diecommunicating with the drainage openings and having a dischargeoutlet'formedtherein, and a'valve connected with the trough for closingthe'discharge outlet from the trough.

10. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a decklemovable relatively to said dies, said decide forming the vertical wallsof a mold, said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, a dischargetrough mounted upon the lower die, said trough having a drainage outletformed therein, said lower die having drainage grooves formed thereincommunicating w th said trough, and a valve connected with the troughfor closing said discharge outlet from the trough.

11. In a wet machine, upper and lower rel atively movable dies, deoklemovable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical wallsof a mold, said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, a sealing me;ber located between the decide-and the lower die, said lower die havingdrainage grooves formed therein located below said sealing member, atrough upon the lower die to receive water from said grooves, saidtrough having a discharge outlet, and a valve connected with the troughfor closing said discharge outlet.

12. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a decklemovable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical wallsof a mold,said lower die forming the bottom of the mold, said lower diehaving drainage grooves formed in the top surface thereof, a troughmounted upon the low-er die located adjacent to the sa d wall thereofarranged to receive water from said drainage grooves, a plate upon thetop surface of the lower die having its outer edge portions projectingover the trough and forming a cover for the latter, said plate h av ingperforations forming communications belngandclosing said openings andhydraulic tween the mold and said grooves, said trough having adischarge outlet formed therein, and a valve for closing said dischargeoutlet.

13. In a: wet machine, upper and lower relativelymovable dies, a decklemovable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical wallsof'a'mold, sald lower die formthe bottom of the mold, a trough securedto the lower die arranged to receive the drainage'water from the mold,saidtrough having a discharge outlet located adjacent to the level ofthe top surface of thelower die for maintaining a'constant water levelbelow the mold, and a valve connected with the discharge outlet of thetrough for closing said discharge outlet;

14. In a wet machine, upper and lowerrelatively movable dies, a decklemovable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical wallsof a mold, said lower die'forming the bottom of the mold, a troughpositioned upon the lower die'to receive drainage water from the topsurface of the lower die, a discharge pipe connected with said trough,said pipe having a discharge outlet located adjacent to the level of thetop surface of the lower die, and a valve connected with said pipefor'olosing said discharge out- 7 let.

'15. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a decklemovable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the verticalwallsof a mold, said lower die having drainage openings and forming thebottom of the mold, a trough positioned upon the lower die arranged toreceive drainage water from the top surface ofthe lower die,

a valve casing having a valve seat located adjacent to the level ofthe-top surface of the lower die, apipe connection "between said troughand the valve casing above said seat, and a valve closure in the casingarranged to shut uponsaid seat and retain the water within said trough.v

16. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively'movabledies and a water lock associated with the lower die includ-' ing a valvecasing having inlet and outlet connections, a valve seat surrounding theout let connection, a pipe connection between the mold and the inletconnection of the Valve,

within the from said seat, a spring upon the casing arranged fornormally holding the closure off said seat, and means for shutting theclosure upon said seat against the action o'l the spring for shuttingthe water lock.

18. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movabledies and a wa er lock associated with the lower die including a valvecasing having inlet and outlet connections, a pipe connection betweenthe inlet c0nnection of the valve casing and the mold, a pressurecylinder associated with the valve casing, a plunger mounted within thepres sure cylinder arranged for closing said out let connection, and aconnect-ion upon the pressure cylinder through which fluid pressure isadmitted for actuating the plunger.

19. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movabledies, a hydraulic ram for moving one of said dies relatively to theother one of said. dies, a drainage trough upon the lower die arrangedto receive drainage water from the mold, a valve connected with thetrough through which passes the drainage water from the trough, apressure actuated plunger in said valve, and pipe connections from asource of fluid pressure to said hydraulic ram and to said plungerarranged to close the valve when the ram is actuated.

20. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movabledies, a hydraulic ram for moving one of said dies relatively to theother one of said dies, a drainage trough upon the lower die arranged toreceive drainage water from the mold, a valve connected with the troughthrough which passes the drainage water "from the trough, a pressureactuated plunger in said valve, and pipe connections from a source offluid pressure to s-aid hydraulic ram and to said plunger arranged toclose the valve when the ram is actuated to move said dies relativelyfarther apart.

21. In a wet machine having a mold, upper and lower relatively movabledies, a pressure ram for lifting the upper die. a source of fluidpressure, aconnection between said source of pressure and the ram, awater lock associated with the lower die for receiving the drainagewater from the mold including a valve, a connection between the valveand the mold. a closure in the valve normally positioned to allow thewater to pass from the water lock, a pressure actuated plungerassociated. with the valve closure, a connection between the source offluid pressure and said plunger, and a control valve arranged forsimultaneously applying pressure to the ram for lifting the die and theplunger for closing the valve.

22. In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, arelatively movable deckle, means for relatively moving the dies and thedeckle including an hydaulic retracting cylinder for one of the dies,drainage channels in the lower die, a water lock opening and closing thedrainage channels and hydraulic means for operating the water lockconnected to the retracting cylinder.

In a wet machine, upper and lower relatively movable dies, a decklcmovable relatively to said dies, said deckle forming the vertical wallsof a mold, a sealing member located between the deckle and one of thedies, said die having drainage grooves placed therein and extendinghorizontally adjacent to said sealing member, a trough communicatingwith said grooves and a valve connected with the trough for preventingdischarge from the trough.

24:. In a wet machine, a mold having drainage outlets, hydraulic meansfor operating the mold, a water lock controlling the drainoutlets,hydraulic means for operating the water lock, a source of hydraulicpressure and connections from the source of hydraulic pressure to themeans for operating the mold and to the means for operating the waterlock, whereby the water lock is closed when the mold is open forfilling.

HENRI P. L. LAUSSUOQ.

